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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2014-02-12, Page 44 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, February 12, 2014 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Seaforth Expositor PUBLISHED WEEKLY — EST. 1860 P.O. Box 69, 8 Main Street Seaforth Ontario NOK phone: 519-527-0240 fax: 519-527-2858 www.seaforthhuronexpositor SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher neil.clifford@sunmedia.ca MAXWELL BICKFORD Advertising Rep. max.bickford@sunmedia.ca DIANNE MCGRATH Front Office seaforth.classifieds@sunmedia.ca WHITNEY SOUTH Multimedia Journalist seaforth.news@sunmedia.ca SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1 YEAR $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 2 YEAR $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) SENIORS 60 WEEKS $50.00 (47.62+2.38 GST) 120 WEEKS $95.00 (90.48+4.52 GST) Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT RO. Box 69 Seaforth ON NOK For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519-527-0240 Advertising is accepted on condition that in the event of a typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of a typographical error, advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell and may be withdrawn at any time. The Huron Expositor is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materials used for reproduction purposes. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. CanacE editorial How to gut a nation of voters, Conservative style While Canada is embroiled in Sochi, the Conservatives have lowered the bar once more this week, with the Fair Elections Act. Though it is brought forward under noble auspices, it will bring in unnecessary election laws that will alienate marginal- ized people and crack down on a fraud that doesn't really exist. The fraudulent behavior surrounding our last General Elec- tion was all perpetrated by people with party ties or party infor- mation - it was not at the ballot box and Elections Canada has been having a very hard time with its investigation into the mat- ter. In another nose thumbing of epic proportions, Elections Canada was not even consulted in drafting the new fair elec- tions legislation. How is that even possible? What's happening is the Conservatives are stacking the deck with party -friendly policy at the expense of mainly young voters, cracking down on identification at voting booths and doing away with vouching for people. If you've ever forgotten your ID on Election Day with only a few minutes left, you can understand how this is seriously flawed. Technicalities should not be used to keep people from having their say. It's an abuse of privilege. Elections Canada would also have to stop encouraging young people to vote by way of educational packages for students, apparently because they failed to do their job of reversing declining poll numbers. The logic is boggling - assuming poor turnout isn't due to voter apathy, poor candidates or a feeling of hopelessness but because a program designed to education people on voting and democracy failed to stop a steady decline. Elections Canada would only be able to offer young adults technical information - where, when and how to vote, and how to be a candidate. That all-important question - why vote? - is not a factor on the Democratic Reform ministry's website. Minister of Democratic Reform, Pierre Poilievre, said the bill would make it difficult for people with no fixed address or gov- ernment ID to vote. Predictably, the Opposition is crying foul, saying the proposed act will harm youth voters as well as abo- riginals and low-income voters. Statistically if not coincidentally, many of those voters prefer the NDP. Party politics aside, alienating vulnerable voters is wrong. It's easy to say those folks should be better prepared or educate themselves. But without living in their world or with that experi- ence, I don't think the people making this legislation know or care what they are doing to new or inexperienced voters. And, as we've seen before, this bill will be hundreds of pages thick, given no time for debate in the House and no time for proper examination. Bad practice, bad policy. Reducing the oversight and investigative abilities of Elections Canada will only allow the erosion to continue. The young guy down the street that needs you to vouch for him at the polling station is not a criminal for having an old address on his license. The politician that uses his office to suppress, distract or dis- qualify voters, however, is another story. - QMI Agency Where's that Olympic spirit? So the Olympics have begun, and not without their share of controversy. Journalists are reporting terri- ble conditions in incomplete hotels, while broadcasters con- tinue to tell a story of sparkling new venues plagued by sub -par attendance. Not to mention human and animals rights activists screaming bloody murder. A far cry from the last Olym- pics, held in Vancouver, where the most common overheard complaint was the lack of snow and balmy temperatures. I was lucky enough to live in Vancouver in 2010, and got to experience the excitement of the games firsthand. Not only was I able to stroll along downtown streets, wrapped up in the Olympic spirit, but I had also been selected to volunteer at the games, driving athletes, judges and officials from venue to venue in a giant, white Buick Enclave. Dressed in my bright blue jacket, I proudly represented my country while making interna- tional friends along the way. We had welcomed the world to our stage, and regardless of what critics may have said at the time, we didn't disappoint. It was electric. I'll never forget the energy in the streets, the way you could feel the roar rumble through the city when Canada's hockey team scored that golden goal. Collecting many memories, not to mention pins, along the way, those two weeks of February will most likely go down as the best of my life. When the games were over, everyone felt a deep sense of loss. It was almost like going on Have an The Huron Expositor wel- comes letters to the editor. They must be signed and accompanied by a phone number for information clarification. It is important to note, letters will not be able to be printed without the author's name attached. Column Whitney South Huron Expositor vacation and meeting someone wonderful, you know you'll only be together for a short time, but you have more fun and a deeper connection then you could even imagine. But in the end, you go your separate ways and shed a tear for your lost soulmate. It was a great and inspiring time. And then there was Sochi. Where are the parties in the streets? Where are the dancers and the artists and the music? Where is all the fun? During a live webcast with the Huffington Post, the reporting journalist commented that few reporters were even attending the opening ceremonies. Whether it was frustration or simply lack of interest, he couldn't be sure. But there he was, watching it on TV. In Sochi, with two tickets sitting unused on his desk So one can't help but wonder, is the lack of Olympic excitement real? Or is it simply that we're missing the big picture with less - than -impressive news coverage from so very far away? I guess only time will tell. Regardless, of what's going on with the political scene, we need to remember what the Olympics are really about: bringing coun- tries together in peace and har- mony, and supporting our athletes. GO CANADA! opinion? All letters are subject to edit- ing due to possible space restriction. Letters can be dropped off at the office, mailed or emailed: The Huron Expositor 8 Main St. P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ont. 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